Hrbek's New Position: He's Just A Player

Entering his fifth full season with the Minnesota Twins, Kent Hrbek is prepared to assume an altogether new role in 1986: first baseman.

Hrbek's previous position during the past four years was Savior.

You could see it right there in his little line in the box score every day: Hrbek, svr 5 1 2 1

Skipping two levels of the minors, he was rushed right in with rave reviews from his schooling at Class A Visalia, where he hit .379 with 27 dingers, to save the floundering Twins. He was hometown and handsome and had the nickname ''Ted'' because his fluid southpaw stroke reminded one and all of Ted Williams. He was fully expected to single-handedly drag Calvin Griffith's economy-model baseball team right into the World Series, all the while winning assorted MVPs, boosting attendance to two million a year, helping little old ladies with their groceries and maybe even discovering a cure for cancer in his spare time.

The last newcomer saddled with such great expectations wore a red cape and messed around with Lois Lane on the side. A big kid with a gifted swing, Hrbek was saddled with the awesome weight of an entire franchise.

Says new Twins manager Ray Miller: ''Herbie has been put in a situation where he was told this team couldn't win if he didn't hit. That's not the way it should be, and I'm not going to put him in that position. He's a talented kid, but he can only be as good as the people around him. They said he had a terrible year, but, hey, he drove in 93 runs.''

The grandiose goal of making Hrbek a mere cog in the machinery may be possible for the first time since Kent hit the bigs. The Twins may finally have a real pitching staff, best buddy Tom Brunansky has developed into a bona fide power hitter, and the return of Roy Smalley and Bert Blyleven gives the club a dose of veteran confidence.

Add the firm leadership of Miller -- always a man with a detailed plan -- and Hrbek senses an upbeat aura around this suddenly experienced team. And weary of the savior yoke, Hrbek has embraced Miller's all-for-one, one-for-all philosophy that began to take root after the new manager replaced Billy Gardner last June. Off to a struggling .230 start typically trying to bring the Twins home by himself, Hrbek relaxed and hit .309 for the remainder of the season under Miller.

''Ray has a plan of attack,'' said Hrbek, pulling on his uniform for his final informal workout Thursday on the eve of the Twins' first full-squad rehearsals. ''I love Billy, but he'd just let us go on the field. The only plan was just try to score more runs than the other team. I really didn't think a manager could make that much difference. But I think Ray will be the difference in us beating some people, 2-1, 3-2.''

Part of the Miller Plan had Hrbek and several mates in serious workouts three times a week this winter at the University of Minnesota. As a result, Kent is heavier, but far better proportioned -- ''I'm leaner and meaner'' -- than when he checked in the last two springs sporting a silhouette that inspired the nickname ''Shamu.'' Said a Twins insider: ''Before this year, Kent's idea of winter workouts was bowling once a week.''

With his splashy, media-embraced rookie year having shrunk to a mere speck in the rear-view mirror, Hrbek also has discovered that personal rewards can grow hollow if the individual numbers are posted with a team always one step above the American Association.

''But I want to see the team win. I haven't played on a winning team since I was at Visalia. In my years at Minnesota, we haven't had a winning record. That's been kind of a bummer. You can only drink so many beers by yourself.

''I want to ride in a parade through the middle of Minneapolis. That looks kind of fun on TV,'' said Kent Hrbek, savior-turned-first baseman.